With the popularity of GoPro cameras and other similar cameras in BMX, there’s no denying that people are always looking for ways to improve the overall quality to give it a somewhat professional look. Although GoPro cameras now have the capabilities to get some very high quality footage in the 4K range, they are still pretty compact and the footage can easily be ruined with a shaky hand. We recently were given the chance to try out the Steadycam Curve from Tiffen, which is their compact handle that is designed to keep that footage smooth when moving around with the footage. We have been playing with it for a little bit now and figured we would put together a little review.
Let’s talk a little bit about how this handle works…
This compact handle works on a balance system that uses weight and micro adjustments to get the camera balanced and keep the shots smooth. Above is a look at the three weights; small, medium and large, that side into the tube or can be stored in the handle that are used to adjust the weight and keep the camera balanced. The tube the weights are inserted into is threaded so you can adjust it to the right and left to balance the weights even more.
The second adjustment point is in the handle which is a dial that can be turned to adjust the curved part of the handle in and out a few millimeters to help balance your cameras tilt forward and backward.
The actual handle can be locked into the curve for storage or if you don’t want the weighted balancing to effect your shot.
Note: This is not how to hold the handle. This was just to show its size and how it looks. The thumb goes on top of the handle and your index finger goes in front of the pivot point to stabilize it.
Overall, the Steadicam Curve is a pretty basic and simple way to improve your GoPro footage by reducing shake and everything. It takes a little time to dial in the balance point and can be a little frustrating trying to get it just right, but, as long as you don’t change the clip you are using or anything, it should remain pretty dialed in once you get it set the first time. As you can see by the photo, the handle is pretty compact and it’s also lightweight so it’s easy to toss into a backpack / camera bag without adding too much of a hassle.
We liked the simplicity of the design, however the handle wasn’t exactly ideal for my bear paws and I felt it was pretty cramped it also left my hand fingers fatigued after holding it for a little while. Personally, if the handle was a little larger, it would make it much more comfortable to use in my opinion. If we had to put a rating on it, we would go with a 6 out of 10.
The Steadicam Curve is available in 4 anodized colors; black, blue, red and silver, for $99.95 in the Tiffen Webstore and through other online and retail stores worldwide.
You can learn more about the Stedicam Curve by visiting their website — tiffen.com/steadicamcurve/
